“The United States is deeply concerned about the ongoing violence in Balochistan, · 2021. 2....
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Transcript of “The United States is deeply concerned about the ongoing violence in Balochistan, · 2021. 2....
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“The United States is deeply concerned about the ongoing violence in Balochistan,
especially targeted killings, disappearances and other human rights abuses.”
—Victoria Nuland, U.S. Department of State Spokesperson, January 13, 2012
“The state is primarily to blame for this situation due to its inability or
unwillingness to protect civilians from human rights abuses or bring perpetrators
to justice.”
—Amnesty International, February 8, 2012
“The security forces have continued to behave with the same impunity they
enjoyed under the military government of President Gen. Pervez Musharraf. This
impunity seems to penetrate the system at all levels.”
—Human Rights Watch, July 2011
“Balochistan stands out for more than one reason even in the appalling human
rights situation across Pakistan today. The state security apparatus in the province
has been accused of serious human rights violations. By far the largest number of
enforced disappearances in any province of the country has been reported from
Balochistan.”
—Human Rights Commission of Pakistan, June 2011
Malik Siraj Akbar
Reagan-Fascell Democracy Fellow
May 2, 2012
The views expressed in this presentation represent the opinions and
analysis of the speaker and do not necessarily reflect those of the
National Endowment for Democracy or its staff.
THREATS TO DEFENDERS OF
DEMOCRACY IN BALOCHISTAN
PRESENTATION OVERVIEW
I. Background to the Conflict in Balochistan
II. Threats to Defenders of Democracy A. Political Assassinations B. Enforced Disappearances C. Press Under Siege
III. Recommendations
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BA
LO
CH
ISTA
N
1666: Founded as an autonomous Kalat state
1948: Annexed by Pakistan
1955: Merged with Pakistan’s Western Unit (province)
1970: Renamed the province of Balochistan
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Balochistan’s Geo-Strategic Importance
One of NATO’s supply routes to Afghanistan
U.S. sub-leased Shamsi Airbase from 2001–2011
U.S. Balochistan consulate impasse
* Misuse of U.S. military assistance
noncompliance with the Leahy Amendment
Presence of Quetta Shura/ Possible U.S. drone strikes
Future Iran-Pakistan-India gas pipeline
Increasing levels of Chinese and Iranian influence
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* Amnesty International, Balochistan Briefing for Committee for Foreign Affairs, US House of Congress,
February 8, 2012
BALOCHISTAN: Richly Poor
Sui Gas Fields: Pakistan’s largest national gas production
Gwadar Port: Gateway to Central Asia
World’s biggest copper-gold reservoirs at Reko Diq
YET
Lack of investment in human development
* Baloch have limited access to basic services Low health and education indicators
Highest infant mortality rate in South Asia
Literacy rate of 25%
* Baloch are underrepresented in state institutions
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* Akmal Hussain, Pakistan: National Human Development Report, UNDP, 2003
* Senate of Pakistan, Report of the Parliamentary Committee on Balochistan, Nov. 2005.
Troubled Relationship
1948: First Insurgency
1958: Second Insurgency
1962: Third Insurgency
1973: Fourth Insurgency
2004–present: Fifth Insurgency
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Stakeholders
Pakistani Government
Pakistani Military and Paramilitary Forces
Intelligence Services
Militant Baloch Separatists
Anti-Nationalist Underground Groups
Defenders of Democracy:
Moderate Political Leaders, Lawyers, Journalists, Civil
Society Activists, Scholars and Student, Families of Victims
POLITICAL ASSASSINATIONS
Who is Assassinated by the Government?
Pro-secession Baloch leaders and activists
Pro-right to self-determination leaders
Pro bono lawyers
University professors
Human rights activists
Family members of Baloch opposition leaders
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* Human Rights Commission of Pakistan, Balochistan: Blinkered into Chaos, June 2011
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Nooruddin Mengal Central Leader
Balochistan National Party
Ghulam Mohammad Chairman
Baloch National Movement
Lala Munir Baloch Vice President
Baloch National Movement
Sangat Sana Baloch Baloch Republican Party
Senator Habib Jalib Secretary General
Balochistan National Party
Balach Marri Member of Baloch Parliament
Slain Political Leaders
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“It is not the '70s that they will
climb mountains. They will not
even know what and from
where something has come and
hit them.” Pervez Musharraf
Former President (Retired) General
Conflict Mismanagement
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“They might kill me. But I am sure our coming generations will continue my mission for the attainment of Baloch rights" Nawab Akbar Bugti
Baloch Nationalist Leader (1927–2006)
Fallo
ut
Increased demand for independence
Departure of genuine leadership
Rise of new radical groups and irreconcilable youth
Breakdown of negotiations
END OF PARLIAMENTARY POLITICS
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Sanaullah Baloch Former Senator, Balochistan National Party
Hairbayar Marri Former Minister and
Member of Parliament
Mir Suleman Dawood The Khan of Kalat
Mir Kachkol Baloch
Opposition Leader
Sardar Akhtar Mengal
Former Chief Minister, President
Balochistan National Party
Bramdagh Bugti Chairman
Baloch Republican Party
Political Assassination Leads to Exodus
Mili
tary
Gove
rnm
ent
Resp
onds
Denial of military operation
Failure to investigate political killings
Divide and Rule tactics
Lack of cooperation with provincial government
Insufficient confidence building measures
* Amnesty international, Pakistan Urged to Investigate Murder and Torture of Baloch Activists, October 26, 2010
C
onflic
t D
ete
riora
tion
MILITANT SEPARATISTS
Attacks on local government officials
Attacks on non-locals
Attacks on moderate Baloch leaders
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STATE
Politicization of security forces
Increased influence of intelligence agencies on government
Disruption of peaceful political public rallies and events
Killing of moderates and reconcilable leadership
*Assaults on dissenting professionals
*Formation of anti–Baloch nationalist underground groups
OTHER ACTORS
Transformation of the middle class and educated youth
* Dawn, Baloch Scholar Shot Dead in Quetta, June 1, 2011
* The Friday Times, Disappearances and Assassinations, January 28, 2011
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ENFORCED DISAPPEARANCES
Who are the Missing Persons?
Ethnic Baloch
Students, political activists, doctors, and ordinary citizens
Relatives of political activists
Members of lower and middle class families
Breadwinners and heads of families
Range from12–80 years of age
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* Human Rights Watch, "We Can Torture, Kill, or Keep You for Years”: Enforced Disappearances by Pakistan Security
Forces in Balochistan, July 2011
What Happens to Them?
Picked up in public places by security forces
Kept at various undisclosed locations where they are subject to: Torture
Solitary confinement
Food and sleep deprivation
Intensive interrogation
Unaware of the charges against them
Denied the right to legal representation
Warned of retaliation if they speak up
Disappear for days, months, years, and even decades
May even be killed
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* Human Rights Watch, "We Can Torture, Kill, or Keep You for Years”: Enforced Disappearances by Pakistan Security
Forces in Balochistan, July 2011
ACCORDING TO:
Military None
* Civilian Government 110
* Interior Minister Sherpao 4,000
* Human Rights Groups 100s
Local Civil Society more than10,000
How Many Have Disappeared?
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* Dawn.com, ‘Fifty-nine Missing Persons Recovered in Balochistan’, February, 10, 2012
* Human Rights Commission of Pakistan, Conflict in Balochistan HRCP Fact-Finding Missions, December 2005 -
January 2006
* Human Rights Watch, "We Can Torture, Kill, or Keep You for Years”: Enforced Disappearances by Pakistan Security
Forces in Balochistan, July 2011
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International Voice for Missing Baloch
Persons
Voice for Missing Baloch Persons
Baloch Women’s Panel
Baloch Bar Association
Baloch Students’ Organization
Baloch National Front
Who Represents Them?
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Who Represents Them?
Supporters of Ghulam Mohammad Baloch,
chairman of Baloch National Movement,
commemorating their slain leader
Families of the missing persons use posters to
wish well the disappeared who are unable to
join them on the eve of the Muslim festival Eid
Families of the disappeared go on hunger strike
Qadir Baloch, father of missing political activist Jalil Reki,
addresses a press conference at the Karachi Press Club
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Cost of Protest
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Jalil Reki, 35
Information Secretary of Baloch Republican Party
“Kill and Dump”
Hundreds of the disappeared are found dead
Visible marks of torture
Multiple shots in the chest and head
Mutilated and unrecognizable bodies
Dumped in deserted places
Disappeared February 2009
Bullet-riddled body found with marks of
torture on November 2011
Human Rights Commission of Pakistan, Masses Must Push
Government to Stem the Rot in Balochistan, December 2011
Fault Lines
Lack of an effective official inquiry
Slow judicial process
Insufficient police cooperation
International media and human rights groups denied access
No compensation for the victims’ families
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* Human Rights Watch, "We Can Torture, Kill, or Keep You for Years”: Enforced Disappearances by Pakistan Security
Forces in Balochistan, July 2011
PRESS UNDER SIEGE 29
PRESS UNDER SIEGE
Pakistan has been the deadliest place for journalists (2010–2011)
Local journalists face high levels of insecurity
Threats of assassinations and enforced disappearance
Foreign journalists are denied access to Balochistan
Closure of newspapers and internet censorship
Underdeveloped local media
National media provides limited coverage of Balochistan
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* Aurangzaib Khan, Press in Stress – Media Under Threat in Balochistan, Intermedia, December 2011
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Ejaz Raisani
Samma TV
Mohammad Khan Sasoli
President, Khuzdar Press Club Lala Hameed Hayatan
Daily Intekhab
Ilyas Nazar
Monthly Darwath
Siddiq Edio
Daily Intekhab
Rehmatullah Shaheen
Daily Tawar
Journalists Killed in the Line of Duty (2010–2011)
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RECOMMENDATIONS
To the Pakistan Government
Immediately end and investigate “kill and dump” operations
Abandon underground anti-nationalist armed groups
Bring the military and intelligence services under civilian control
Ensure Baloch representation in security structure (Army, police,
Frontier Corps)
Establish a truth and reconciliation commission on Balochistan
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To the Pakistan Government
Ensure freedom of the press
Investigate attacks on journalists and civil society activists
Provide access to international human rights groups and
the media
Provide compensation to families of victims of political
assassination, enforced disappearance and torture
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To Moderate Baloch Leaders
End boycott of parliamentary process
Contest general elections in 2013
Condemn the killing of innocent civilians
Disown and disassociate from violent methods of struggle
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To Militant Baloch Separatists
Stop killing innocent civilians
Halt attacks against parliamentary leaders
Stop pressuring international NGOs and the media
Seek a peaceful and democratic solution to the conflict
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To the U.S. Government
Ensure implementation of the Leahy Amendment, preventing US weapons and training facilities from being used to crush democratic forces
Facilitate an international conference on Balochistan at a neutral venue to decide on a roadmap to peace
Encourage Pakistan to replace the 60,000 FATA-origin Frontier Corps with local Baloch and to end Frontier Corps’ support for the Taliban
Press Pakistan to respect human rights and sign the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance
Urge Pakistan to lift the ban on online news sources and investigate the killings of journalists in Balochistan
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To International NGOs
Undertake initiatives that highlight the situation in Balochistan
Build the capacity of local journalists and rights activists
Open up doors for endangered activists and victims of torture
Facilitate asylum cases of at-risk leaders and activists
Ensure organizational presence in Balochistan to monitor human
rights abuses
Encourage research and independent investigation of the conflict
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